Switch mechanism



M- COWEN.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17, 1919.

1,334,437. Patentd Mar. 1920;

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SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 17. 1919.

1,334,437. Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

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MEET COWEN, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIG'NOR OF ONE-HALF TO DENNIS F. CASEY, OF BINGI-IAMTON, NEW YORK.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed December 17, 1919.

1/ b all whom 2'25 may concern Be it known that I, Mnn'r (Iowan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch Mechanisms of which the following is a specification, reference being; had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in switch mechanism and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general type whereby the switch may be moved into open or closed position through the instrtu mentality of a member carried by the rollinc; stock and which engages a trip comprised in the mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character wherein an operatingmember therefor is carried by the rolling stock whereby a. person riding on the rolling stock may cause the switch to be opened or closed, in accordance with the require ments of practice, while the rollinp; stock continues in motion.

Furthermore, it is an object of the inven tion to provide a novel and improved mechanism of this general character wherein the same is e'lfectually protected against outside interference such as may be offered by vehicles or the like and wherein the operatingmeans for the mechanism is carried-by rolli119; stock.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mecha-' nism of this general character which can be readily and conveniently installed and effectually concealed without impairing its operation and whereby the mechanism can be operated at will by a person traveling with the rolling stock and which mechanism can only be operated through the instrumentality of a member carried by the rolling stock.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved switch mechanism whereby certain important advantages are attained and the (lei ice rendered simpler, less expensive and otl'ierwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar.

Serial No. 345,529.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

in order that my invention may be the better understood, 1 will now proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a. framnentary view in top plan and somewhat of a diagram]natic character illustrating a switch mechanism constructed in. accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the housing of the rod 1i illustrated in Figs. 2 and (3 not being shown.

F 2 is a fragmentary view in side ole ration illustrating a portion of the mechanism herein disclosed. together with the member carried by the rolling stock for operating the mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. at is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4- 1- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a. fragmentary sectional view illustrating the operative connection between the switch tongue and the operating rod therefor;

F 6 is a. sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in rear elevation illustrating the pivotal connection of the operating member with the rolling stock and the means coactinp; therewith for holding said member against undue lateral. movement.

As disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings, M denotes the main line of a trackway and B a branch coacting therewith. T denotes a switch tongue operating in wellknown manner and which when closed, directs the travel. of the rolling stock upon the branch B. The tongue T in Fig. 1 is shown in open position.

In the present embodiment of my invention, the tongue T comprises a length of rail which, when in closed position, extends entirely across the trackway and the end portion of said tongue T at the branch side of the trackway M is pivotally supported, as at 1, for requisite swinging movement. The pivoted end portion of the tongue T is also provided with a lateral extension or arm 12 disposed. in a direction toward the branch 13 and underlying the same. The extension or arm 2 is of a length to extend beyond the outer rail of the branch B.

Extending transversely of the trackway M at a predetermined distance in advance of the branch B is a. rock shaft 3 having its major portion housed within a sleeve 4:.

One end portion of the sleeve t is suitably held by the under-surface of the rail of the trackway M remote from the branch B, while the opposite end portion of the sleeve 4 is suitably carried by a guard member 5. The member 5 extends longitudinally of the trackway M and located at a point inwardly ofbut in close proximity to the rail of the trackway M at .the branch side thereof. The shaft 8 has an end portion rotatably supported by a bearing 6 depending from the bottom portion of the rail of the trackway M at the branch side thereof and said end portion is provided with a depending rock arm 7. Operatively engaged, as at 8, with the lower end portion of the arm 7 is an end portion of an operating rod R. The rod R extends alongside of the outer face of the webs of the adjacent rails of the trackway M and the branch B and is protected against interference or obstruction by the plate 9 connecting the heads and adjacentfianges of the rails. Portion of the plate 9 adjacent the rock arm 7 is constructed to form a housing 9 While the opposite end portion terminates in a housing 9 for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Inwardly of but in close proximity to the outer rail of the branch B is a guard 10 extending longitudinally of said branch and supported by said guard 10 and the inner rail of the branch B, is a sleeve 11. The sleeve 11 houses the major portion of a rock shaft 12. The end portion ofthe shaft 12 adjacent the outer rail of the branch B is provided with an upstanding rock arm M with which is operatively engaged, as at 15, the adjacent end portion of the rod B. In order to facilitate its functioning the rod R preferably comprises a pluralityof sections hingedly connected as at 16. The rock arm 14: and the adjacent portion of the rod B are concealed within the housing 9 herein-before referred to.

The outer or free end portion of the extension or arm T is provided with an upstanding eye member 17 through which is loosely directed the outwardly disposed finger or arm 18 carried by the rod B so that upon endwise movement of the rod R the extension or arm 2 will be caused to swing in the same general direction as the direc tion of movement of the rod so that upon requisite movement of the rod R, the tongue T Will be moved into either opened or closed position as occasioned by the requirements of practice.

The rock arm 3 between the guard member '5 and the adjacent rail of the trackway M is provided with the upstanding trip arm 19 of a length to terminate below the upper faces of the guard member 5 and the adj acent rail and below the flanges, the wheels of the rolling stock traveling on the trackway so that said arm 19 is free of contact by said wheels or by vehicles and the like crossing the trackway.

The rock arm 12 between the guard member 10 and the adjacent rail of the branch B is also provided with the upstamt ing trip arm 20 of a length to terminate below the upper faces of the guard member 10 and the rail B and below the flanges of the wheels of the rolling stock traveling through said branch for the same reason which has been set forth witlrrespect to the trip arm 19.

It is also to be noted that the trip arms 19 and 20 are arranged on inclines and on such inclines that same may be readily depressed by a member depending from the rolling stock S irrespective of the direction of travel of said rolling stock along the trackway M or the b anch B.

My invention as herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use in connection with trolley cars or the like and the rolling stock S is illustrated in fragment in Fig. 2. (larried by said stock is a member A supported for vertical swinging movement and which is normally maintained elevated or in an inoperative position through the medium of a retractable member 21 herein disclosed as a coil spring interposed between the platform of the stock S and the member A at a point below said platform.

The member A preferably comprises an elongated rod curved longitudinally and having one end portion pivotally engaged as at 29. with a bracket 23 depending from the body of the rolling stock or car S. The opposite end portion of the member A is slid ably disposed through the platform and terminates in an enlargement or pedal 24.

As before stated, the retractable member 21 maintains the member A elevated or in an inoperative position. \Vhen the carman desires to throw the tongue T, it is only necessary to depress the forward or free end of the member A by a foot. This will result in the intermediate portion of the member A being lowered to a position to engage either the trip arm 19 or 20 and impart the requisite movement to the rod 'R to throw the tongue T, and this operation can be accomplished upon travel of the rolling stock or car S in either direction.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, it is to be noted that the shafts 3 and 12 are so located that after the tongue T has been moved into ing from the branch line B 011 to the main line M.

It is of importance that the member A have vertical swinging movement in substantially a fixed line of travel and in order to assure this condition, I find it of utmost importance to provide the plates 25 depending from the body of the rolling stock or car S at opposite sides of the member A but in close proximity thereto. It will also be understood that when the member A is depressed, its functioning is further facilitated by the guard member 5 or 10.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a switch mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a trackway, a branch trackway and aswitch tongue coacting therewith, a lateral extension carried by the switch tongue, a pair of trip arms between which the tongue is positioned, one of said arms coacting with the main line and the second of said arms with the branch line, a rod connecting said trip arms, an arm carried by the rod and having slidable connection with the extension of the tongue, and car actuated means for imparting movement to either of the rock arms.

2. In combination with a trackway, a branch trackway and a switch tongue coacting therewith, a lateral extension carried by the switch tongue, a pair of trip arms between which the tongue is positioned, one of said arms coacting with the main line and the second of said arms with the branch line, a rod connecting said trip arms, an arm carried by the rod and having slidable connection with the extension of the tongue,

car actuated means for in'iparting movement to either of the rock arms, each of said trip arms being positioned in close proximity to a rail, and a guard member arranged adjacent to each of said trip arms, said trip arm being positioned between a rail and a guard member.

3. In combination with a trackway, a branch trackway and a switch tongue coacting therewith, a lateral extension carried by the switch tongue, :1 pair of trip arms between which the tongue is positioned, one of said arms coacting with the main line and the second of said arms with the branch line, a rod connecting said trip arms, an arm carried by the rod and having slidable connection with the extension of the tongue, and car actuated means for imparting movement to either of the rock arms, and means for housing the rod.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atlix my signature.

MERT COWEN. 

